Icon of the Theotokos “of the Passion” – T39

Description

The icons that are named “of the Passion” are a particular type of icon that shows the Lord held in His Mother’s arms and looking up at one of the two angels that are carrying the instruments of His Passion which will come to pass many years in the future.  In fright over this vision of coming suffering, His sandal is loosed and falling.  The Virgin Mary looks out directly at us to show us that her entire message is, as she said to the servants in Cana of Galilee, “whatever He saith unto you, do it.”  (John 2:5) 

The Lord is the Lord of Lords, and He is also the King of Kings, but He will retain the very imprint of the nails in His hands and feet, and the spear wound in His side after His Resurrection.  This is to show that His Crucifixion and Suffering were real when they occurred, but more importantly that He offers us the blessing to follow Him up that very road to Golgotha to crucify our lusts and sins so that we may be purified, perfected, and made holy.  This process always involves conscious and willing suffering on our part  and the asceticism or self-denial to make our sufferings effectively spiritual, not merely physical or psychological.